Articles

Estates & Trusts

• Estate Planning

  Wills and trusts allow you to spell out how you would like your property distributed, but they also go beyond that.

• Avoiding Probate

  The probate process can be lengthy and complex. There are strategies you can use to help avoid the probate process.

• Charitable Giving

  To retain the tax advantages associated with charitable giving, your gift must be made to a qualified organization.

• Gifting Strategies

  Compare the advantages and disadvantages of different gifting strategies available for planned giving.

• Charitable Lead Trusts

  Charitable lead trusts are designed for people who would like to benefit a charity now rather than later.

• Charitable Remainder Trusts

  A designated income beneficiary could receive payment of a specified amount from a charitable remainder trust.

• Wealth Replacement Trusts

  A wealth replacement trust could be used to gift appreciated assets to a charity as well as provide for heirs.

• History of the Federal Estate Tax

  Careful estate planning is still one of the most important ways to manage and protect your assets for your heirs.

Retirement

• SEP IRAs

  A SEP IRA is a type of plan under which the employer contributes (up to a certain limit) to an employee’s IRA.

• SIMPLE Plans

  The SIMPLE plan may appeal to small business owners as it is easy to set up, administer, and allows for a tax deduction.

• IRA Rollover

  If you leave a job or retire, you should consider your options regarding your employer retirement plan assets.

• Roth 401(k)

  A Roth 401(k) is funded with after-tax money, and allows for tax- and penalty-free withdrawal of earnings if requirements are met.

• Profit-Sharing Plans

  Profit-sharing plans give employees a share in the profits of a company and can help to fund their retirements.

• Managing Retirement Plans

  Employer-sponsored retirement plans are more important than ever, but managing the assets can be confusing.

• Save Now or Save Later

  If you start saving for retirement sooner, the more money you are likely to accumulate and possibly retire sooner.

Tax Planning

• Tax-Advantaged Alternatives

  While stable, CDs can create quite an income tax bill. Fixed annuities and municipal bonds can offer tax advantages.

• Tax Strategies for Retirement Plans

  Consider a trustee-to-trustee transfer to an IRA versus a lump-sum distribution from a workplace retirement plan.

• Mutual Fund Profits

  Want to keep more of your mutual fund profits? You may be interested in strategies to help lower your tax liability.

Investing

• Diversification

  An important element to successful investing is to manage investment risk while maintaining the potential for growth.

• Mutual Funds vs. Stocks

  The difference between purchasing an individual stock versus shares in a mutual fund to potentially earn dividends.

• Mutual Funds

  A mutual fund is a collection of stocks, bonds, and other securities with certain benefits and risks.

• Closed-End Funds

  With closed-end funds, investors pool their money together to purchase a professionally managed portfolio of stocks and/or bonds.

• Mutual Fund Loads

  It’s important to understand mutual fund loads, or sales charges, and exactly what they entail so you can make informed investing decisions.

• Annuities

  An annuity is a flexible financial vehicle that can help protect against the risk of living a long time because it provides an option for a lifetime income.

• Asset Classes

  There are five broad asset classes that you should take into consideration when constructing your investment portfolio.

• College Savings Plans

  There are several funding methods for a child's college education including mutual funds and Section 529 plans.

• College Investment Options

  Starting to invest early for college and remaining consistent can help investors reach their goals.

• Stock and Bond Investing Alternatives

  There are other ways to invest in stocks and bonds besides owning individual shares or bonds.

• Dollar-Cost Averaging

  Dollar-cost averaging involves investing a set amount of money on a regular basis, regardless of market conditions.

Cash Management

• Cash Management Basics

  A sound cash management program uses a disciplined approach: accounting, analysis, allocation, and adjustment.

• Doubling Your Money

  Before making investment decisions, it is helpful to determine the real rate of return on the investment.

• Biweekly Mortgages

  Biweekly mortgage payments can have a dramatic effect on the amount of interest homeowners have to pay.

• Smart Financing Ideas

  Here are some smart ways to refinance your home.

• Savings Alternatives

  There are a number of savings alternatives that could help you earn a reasonable rate of return.

• Effects of Inflation

  Historically, one of the best ways to fight the effects of inflation has been to utilize growth-oriented investments.

• Home Equity Loans

  Shifting some debt to a home equity loan, which typically allows interest payments to be tax deductible, could have its advantages.

Risk Management

• Term Life Insurance

  Term life insurance differs from permanent forms of life insurance in that it offers temporary protection.

• Whole Life Insurance

  Some of the pros and cons of whole life insurance.

• Universal Life Insurance

  Consider a universal life insurance policy if you want the flexibility to change your premium or death benefit.

• Variable Life Insurance

  Variable life insurance gives you the control to allocate your account value among a variety of investment options.

• Auto Insurance

  Even if your state doesn’t require certain types of auto insurance, it may be wise to purchase multiple types to ensure you are covered for a variety of situations.

• Insuring Your Future

  To help you choose insurance wisely, determine how much coverage and what kind of policy is best for your situation.

• Additional Liability Coverage

  Consider additional liability insurance to help protect you from the potentially devastating effects of liability lawsuits.

• HMOs and PPOs

  Selecting health insurance is often one of the most important decisions you will make. Do you know the different types?

• Evaluating Insurance Companies

  Using a financially sound insurance company is an important part of ensuring your family’s financial security.